Continuous drier apparatus



June 28, 1966 l. BoNTr-:MPI ETAL 3,258W3 CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet l l I l l III! l l I l l l In l l i .ww l l INVENTOR IGNATIUS DE FRANCISCI IGNATIUS BONTEIVIPI BY 3 l ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 BONTEMPI ETAL 3,258,103

CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

11\1\/151\1T0R. IGNATIUS DE FRANCISCI IGNATIUS BONTEMP| ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 1. BONTEMPI ETAL 3,258,103

CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l2 FIGXm June 28, w66 l. BoNTl-:MPI ETAL 3,258,103

CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 5w FIGA INVENTOR. IGNATIUS DE FRANCISCI IGNATIUS BONTEMPI WMM? ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 1. BoNTl-:MPI ETAL 3,2,W3

CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5l, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 GIA FIG. 5

June 28, 1966 1. BONTEMPI ETAL 3,258,103

CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3l, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 F'G FQ INVENTOR. IGNATIUS DE FRANCISCI IGNATIUS BONTEMPI ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 BoNTl-:MPI ETAL CONTINUOUS DRIER APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. 51, 1964 FIG. 9

INVENTOR. IGNATIUS DE FRANCISCI ATTORNEY United States Patent .0

York

Filed Ian. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 341,647 11 Claims. (Cl. 1198-21) This invention relates to apparatus for continously and automatically drying alimentary paste products, and more particularly to apparatus for automatically and continously drying long goods spaghetti as it feeds from a spaghetti press and then delivering th-at spaghetti in its dried state to a stripper for subsequent Weighing and packaging operations.

Spaghetti extruded from a spreader press normally has a moisture content-of about 31% by weight (wet basis). This spaghetti must be dried to a moisture content of about 11% before it is packaged or else it will develop mold in the package. There are variations in the methods and apparatus used for drying the product, but generally two phases are involved: 1) Preliminary drying which is a rapid drying operation that subjects the moist spaghetti to about 100 F., 75% relative humidity for about two hours so as to reduce the moisture content to about 22% and (2) finish drying, which is the slow drying operation that subjects the partially dried 22% spaghetti to temperatures ranging from 100 F. to 120 F. and relative humidities from 85% to 60% for about twenty-two hours to reduce the moisture content to the desired 11%.

These spaghetti drying operations are one of the highest cost operations faced in the mass production of spaghetti today. Because bulky compartments are normally required for handling production size batches of spaghetti, capital outlay for plant space is high. Furthermore,

. 3,258,103 Patented June 28, 1966 ice '- loaded rack rods, means are provided for automatically these compartments require intricate controls and closures lina and water enter at one end of our line, and driedt spaghetti cut to size eXits at the other end. Briefly describing our apparatus, the first component is an automatic spreader press which extrudes moist spaghetti and deposits the spaghetti on rack rods. As fast as it can be extruded, the spaghetti is conveyed on the rods in single tier flow through a multi-pass preliminary drier.

From there it is carried to the finishing drier where the flow pattern is changed to a multi-tiered, single pass ow. The novel transfer means devised to smoothly accomplish this transfer and change of flow pattern is an important aspect of our invention. From the finishing drier the dried spaghetti moves on into an accumulator which provides a temporary storage area for the dried spaghetti. From the accumulator a second transfer means, similar to the first, carries the spaghetti on to the stripper wihch strips the spaghetti from the rods and cuts it into convenient lengths for packaging. This transfer mechanism changes the multi-tiered ow back to single tier ow for passage to the stripper. Another important aspect of our invention is the rack rod return system. After the dried spaghetti is removed from the return the empty rods to the spreader press for the next cycle through the drier.

Our apparatus is designed to run on a twenty-four hour day, five days a week continuous cycle. The components are arranged to perform those operations which require the closest supervision, namely the stripping and packaging, during an eight hour normal work day period. The extruding and drying operation can then continue through the night with little supervision., and the dried product is stored in the accumulator for stripping on the following workday.

The principal object of this invention therefore is to provide a means for continuously and uniformly drying production quantities of spaghetti inexpensively for eX- tended periods of time with a minimum amount of supervision.

Another object of our invention is to achieve uniformity of drying by using a plurality of tiered drying chains which carry groups of rack rods loaded with spaghetti through the drying line, each group moving through .the drier line in substantially the same vertical relationship until finally dried, thus assuring uniform drying for each member of each group.

Another object of our invention is to provide a continuous drier conveying mechanism and arrangement which carry the loaded rack rods in multi-tier advance through the sequential drying stages with a minimum number of transfer linkages to avoid jamming problems and thus assure smooth rack rod feed and flow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drying apparatus which can be used in a fully automated spaghetti processing operation wherein semolina and water are mixed at one end and spaghetti ready to be packaged exists at the other end.

Another object of our invention is to provide a uniquely designed rack rod that is especially adapted for use in continuous drying equipment of the type herein described.

A further object of our invention is to provide in an automated spaghetti processing line a mechanism for automatically returning the empty rack rods from the stripper rack to the spreader press for continued passes through the processing line.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be apparent from the accompanying description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a complete drying line embodying our invention showing the relationship of various components of the line;

FIGURE 2 is a partialcross-sectional elevation of a continuous spreader press and rack rod feed mechanism embodied in our invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional elevation of an input elevator embodied in our drying line;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of a rod transfer apparatus which may be used in our drier;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the transfer apparatus shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional elevation of a discharge elevator embodied in our invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail drawing of the actuating mechanism employed in the discharge elevator shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an isomeric view of a novel rack rod construction embodied in our invention; and

FIGURE 9 is an electrical schematic of an accumulator drive used in our drier.

Before ydescribing each section of cur continuous drier, the complete line will be briefly summarized in order to point out how each component cooperates with the other in achieving the desired results.

Referring to FIGURE l the line generally comprises conventional press 10, preliminary drier 11, input elevator 12, finishing drier 13 (comprising conventional first, second and third stage driers, only the initial part of the first sta'ge and last part of third stage driers being shown) accumulator 14, discharge elevator 15 and stripper 16.

Rack rod return mechanism 17 automatically returns empty rods `from stripper 16 to press 10 -and stores them there for re-use through the line. Also essential to the operation of the complete drier line are rack rod transfer apparatus 18, which serve to connect each of the above stages and components to the other.

Conventional blowers to circulate the drying air and conventional curtains to separate the dried stages may be used and thus are not described herein, since they form no significant part of our invention. The same applies to the automatic controls which are required to achieve the necessary drying conditions in each of the stages. Apparatus suitable for these operations is disclosed in Coffaro Patent 2,804,697 which patent is also owned by the assignee of this application.

Considering first the operation of the complete line and referring to FIG. 1, the advance of the spaghetti from press through the drier to stripper 16 is indicated by arrows. Spaghetti having a 31% moisture content (wet basis) is extruded from press 10 and automatically draped over rack rods 20 which are then automatically conveyed to preliminary drier 11. There the spaghetti is subjected to temperatures of about 100 F. and about 75% relative humidity for approximately two hours. This reduces the moisture content to approximately 22%, at which point it is ready to proceed into finishing drier 13.

Before the partially dried spaghetti enters finishing drier 13 its flow pattern is changed by input elevator 12 from the multi-pass, single tier ow of preliminary drier 11 to a multi-tier, single pass flow through finishing drier 13 and accumulator 14. Flow is then returned to single tier by discharge elevator 15 before arriving at stripper 16. The purpose in converting the flow to multi-tier is to maximize the use of available drying space and also to eliminate the necessity for the intricate transfer mechanisms required by multi-pass drier operations.

Finishing drier 13 first stage is maintained at about 115 and 85% relative humidity and transit time is approximately six hours. In the second stage the temperature is 100 F., relative humidity is 80%, and transit time is eight hours. In the third stage temperature is 100 F., relative humidity is 60%, and transit time is eight hours. On leaving the third stage the spaghetti is in its fully dried condition 11% moisture by weight.

The dried spaghetti proceeds into accumulator 14 which stores the spaghetti temporarily until stripper 16 is put into operation. The dried spaghetti is transferred from accumulator 14 to stripper 16 `by discharge elevator 15. The necessity for Ithe storage space of accumulator 14 becomes readily apparent when the operating cycle of the complete spaghetti line is considered.

The extruder 10 is run at -full capacity twenty-four hours a day. Thus the extrusion, drying and accumul-ating operations run continuously day and night. This is economically justifiable because these operations need only minimal supervision. Applicants have found that two operators are all that are required for these operations when running at a rate of 1500 lb. per hour. The stripping and packaging operations on the other hand require close supervision and a large number of operators, and they 'are therefore performed during the normal eight hour Working day. Furthermore, the stripping and packaging operations can be automated to the point where they can run in an eight hour period what the extruder and drier run in a twenty-four hour period. In order to synchronize the output rate of the extruder 10 and the driers 11 and 13 with `the output of the stripper 16 and the packaging equipment storage space must be provided, and this is the function of the accumulator 14.

Turning now to the detailed description of each portion of the drier line, press 10 is a conventional type such as disclosed in De Francisci Patent 2,687,101 and forms no part of this invention except insofar as it is an integral part of the complete drier line. Likewise, with preliminary drier 11, which also is of a conventional type as disclosed in Ambretti Patent 2,515,684.

Referring to FIGURE 2 spaghetti is extruded by press 10, cut to length by knife 10' and draped on rods 20 in the conventional manner. The spaghetti is preliminarily dried on rods 20 by drier 11 and then proceeds to input elevator 12 (FIIG. 1). Referring to FIGURE 3 rack rods 20 bearing the partially dried spaghetti are received from preliminary drier 11 on a pair of endless conveyor chains 21 driven by conventional motor means not shown. Rods 20 approach input yelevator 12 in a single tier substantially horizontal ow. Input elevator 12 receives rods 20 and transfers them to finishing drier 13 and in so doing changes the single tier flow to multi-tier flow. The means and manner by which this is accomplished will now be described.

Input elevator 12 comprises a pair of endless conveyor chains 22 driven by a pair of power sprockets 23 and tracked on three pairs of idler sprockets 24. Sprockets 23 and 24 are mounted on shafts 23A and 24A respectively which are suitably journaled in bearings carried by framework 25. Sprockets 23 and 24 are positioned to track chains 22 on a generally rectangular, clockwise path as viewed in FIGURE 3 bordering the interior of compartment panelling 26.

Each of `the pairs of chains 21, 22 and sprockets 23 and 24 are identical to the other in structure and operation, therefore description of all chains and sprockets henceforth will relate to that member of the pair shown in the elevation views herein, it being understood that the description in fact relates to the pair. The same applies to description of other paired parts which follow.

Positioned equidistant apart on chain 22 are two groups of rack rod support lugs, each group comprising four pairs of lulgs 27A, B, C, D and 28A, B, C, D. Location 'of said lugs on chain 22 is dictated by tier spacing in finishing drier 13 as will be clear from the discussion that follows.

Power is supplied to power sprocket 23 by means of drive shaft 30 driven by a conventional motor 31 (FIG. 4). Power is transmitted through pulleys 32 and 33, timing belt 34, speed reducer 3S and sprocket 35A, and chain drive 36.

Operation of chain 22 is intermittent. Power is supplied to sprocket 23 only when the leading rack rod 20 from preliminary drier 11 is aligned transverse to chains 21 and 22 andadjacent to chain 22. ,Controls utilized to insure this operation are a pair of normally open start switches 37, each having a trigger 38 adjacent each chain 21 and 22 that is actuated by each corresponding end of the leading rack rod 20 when fed to the correct transfer position along chains 21 and 22. When both ends engage triggers 38, the electrical circuit supplying power to motor 31 for power shaft 30 is closed causing it to rotate sprocket 23 and thus advance chain 22 to move one of the rack rod support lugs (27A-D, 28A-D) into position so as to pick up and convey rack rod 20 upwardly. Motor 31 continues to supply power to drive shaft 30 until its feed circuit is broken which occurs when the next advancing rack rod support lug engages trigger 40 of normally closed stop switch 41 which temporarily opens theholding circuit for motor 31 and thereby stops it. Motor 31 will be restarted and power supplied through sprocket 23 when the next following rack rod 20 reaches correct transfer position adjacent and transverse to chain 21 and 22 and triggers start switches 37 for another cycle. Switches 37 and 41 may be conveniently mounted on framework 25. Operation and placement of these switches for this purpose is described in greater detail in De Francisci Patent 2,724,482.

This input elevator rack rod loading cycle continues without change until all eight lugs 27 (A-D) and 28(A-D) are loaded with rack rods 20. In the position shown in FIGURE 3 rack rod support lug 28D will be loaded with its rack rod Ztl at the same time that the first group of four rack rods 27(AD) are positioned adjacent lift off arms 42(A*D). Lift off arms 42(A-D) are identical in structure and operation, therefore their description can be limited to one arm 42A as being typical.

Lift off arm 42A isA supported from framework 25 by suitably journaled bearing block 43 and actuated about pivot pin 44 by linkage arm d5. Linkage arm 45 is actuated by rocker 46 pivoted to suitably journaled bearing block 47 and moved by cam follower 48 driven by cam 50 on sprocket 51. Sprocket 51 is mounted on shaft 51 which rotates freely in bearings in frame work 25 and is driven lby power sprocket 23 through intermediate idler sprocket 52 and chains 53 and 54,.

The ends of lift off arms 42.(A-D) are normally raised free and clear of descending rack rods 2@ carried by chain 21 (position shown in dash line). During this time cam follower 48 travels on the circular portion of cam 5d. When the last of the eight rack rod support lugs 28D is loaded with its rack rod 2t), cam 50 is in a position shown such that cam follower 4S reaches the recessed cam surface causing lift off arms 4.2(A-D) to drop so as to intercept descending rack rods 29, carried by lugs 27(A-D) (position shown in solid line). As rack rod support lugs 27(AD) continue to descend, rack rods 2@ are lifted out of engagement therewith and roll down corresponding lift ofi` arms 42;(A-D) onto conveyor chains 55(A-D) which feeds rack rods 29 into finishing drier 13. Conveyor chains 55(A-D) are positioned adjacent the inner faces of compartment panel 26, in the same general manner as chain 22.

Conditions in the finishing drier 13 which have been found satisfactory are specified above. It can be seen that the rack rods 2t) loaded with spaghetti pass through finishing drier 13 in groups of four substantially vertically arranged rows, hence each rod 2.1i in a particular group is exposed to the same drying conditions for a predetermined period of time, and thereby uniformity of drying is assured. This drying time is preset by the speed of advance of the product through the drier, which is controlled by the sprocket gear ratios and speed reducer ratios. v

The loaded rack rods 2@ are carried through the finishing drier 13 by a series of conveyor chains of the same type as chains 55tA-D), all of which are driven by power drive shaft 39 through a corresponding series of transmissions. One such typical transmission will now be described.

Referring to FGURES 4 and 5 drive shaft 3i) supplies power through belt 55 and speed reducer 57 mounted on framework 25. (As pointed out above drive shaft 30 also powers chain 22 in input elevator 12, thus causing rods 2d tol advance simultaneously from preliminary drier 11 to and through elevator 412 and through finishing drier 13.) Speed reducer sprocket 58 drives chain et? which drives sprocket 61. 'Sprocket 61 is mounted on shaft 61A suitably journalled in pillow blocks 62 mounted on framework 25. Coaxially mounted on shaft 61A is sprocket 63 which engages chain 64A and 64B which drive sprocket 65A and 65B similarly mounted on pillow blocks 66A and 66B tothe framework 25. Sprockets 65A and 65B drive sprockets 6](AD) by means of chains 68A and 68B and sprockets 69(A-D) mounted coaxial with sprockets 67(AD). Sprockets 67(A-D) track conveyor chains 55(A-D) with idler sprockets 70(A-D) (see FIG. 3) to convey product through the first stage of finishing drier 13.

Conveying and driving mechanisms for each stage of finishing drier 13 and accumulator 14 are essentially the same as that described above. Gear ratios and chain pitches are selected to give the desired rack rod transit times specified above. Additionally, accumulator 14 is provided with an overrunning drive described hereinafter to accelerate transit of the dried product while stripper 16 is in use.

The next component in the line is the discharge elevator 15. Referring to FIGURE 6, spaghetti laden rack rods 2@ progress through accumulator 14 on chains 74(A-D) and approach the discharge end adjacent accumulator drive sprockets 75(A-D). Positioned in the path of the first advancing rack rod 2t) of each tier are a pair of normally open switches 76 (see detail in FIG- URE 7) with triggers 77 located to be engaged by the advancing rod 20 when resting on support fingers 7S mounted to framework 25. When the lead rack rod 20 from each tier is aligned transversely to the path of chains 'IMA-D) and 79 (as shown in FIG. 7) then the switches 76 are closed, and this closes the circuit to motor 80 which powers sprocket 81 to drive sprocket 82 through chain 83. Coaxial with sprocket 82 is sprocket 84 which with idler sprocket 35 tracks chain 79. Positioned on chain 79 are two groups of rack rod support lugs SWA-D) and 88(AD) in a mann-er similar to those on chain 22 described above. Motor St) drives chain 79 clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 6 to advance lugs SMA-D) so as to engage and lift off loaded rack rods Ztl four at a time from the accumulator conveyor chains 74(A-D). FIGURE 6 depicts lugs ti(A-D) immediately after engagement and lifting off rods 29 from chain WMA-D). Rods 26 are than advanced yby chain 79 until the following group of support lugs 87(AD) had advanced to the ready position adjacent chains 74(AD) just vacated by lugs 88(A-D). At this point one of a pair of fingers 9) oppositely disposed on chain 79 trips normally closed switch 91 which opens the circuit to motor 30 and halts chain 79. This operation is essentially similar to the operation of the input elevator chain 22 described above. The cycle repeats and rods 2t) are carried by chain 79 until intercepted by horizontally disposed chain 92 tracked on sprockets 93 and 94 and driven by chain 95 connected through sprocket and chain to a conventional stripper feeding conveyor not shown in this drawing.

Simultaneously with advancing of chain '79 around sprockets 84 and 55, motor 80 also drives sprocket 95 through sprocket 82 and chain 96. Attached to sprocket 95 about eccentric pin 97 is crank 9S which is pivoted about `bearing block 109 to framework 25 through suitable bearings. Supporting motor 80 and its appurtenant chains and sprockets is movable carriage 191.

Carriage 101 is .a rigid separable framework which supports thel framework of discharge elevator 15, motor and its appurtenant power transmission arrangement and is movably mounted on wheels 152 which are guided by rails 103. As sprocket rotates, the eccentric mounting of crank 97 causes carriage 101 to shift horozontally to the right (as seen in Fig. 6) away from the accumulator discharge sprockets 75(A-D) and chains WMA-D) so as to prevent their interference with the ascending spaghetti laden rack rods 2@ carried by chain 7 9.

While carriage 1111 is in this ofi-set position, rack rods 2t) continue on chain 79 until they are engaged by feed chain 92 of the stripper 16 (FIG. l). Chain 92 is driven by chain 95 and a conventional motor (not shown) to deliver the dried spaghetti to stripper 16. Stripper 16 is a conventional machine for automatically stripping the dried spaghetti off rack rods 20 and cutting it to a size convenient for packaging. It forms no material part of our invention and therefore is not shown except schematically in FIG. l. After the dried spaghetti had been stripped from the rack rods 20 they are returned to the spreader press 19 by lthe rack rod return mechanism generally designated 17, a description of which follows:

Returning from stipper 16, empty rack rods 20 roll down chute 105 onto chain 196 driven by sprocket 107 adjacent press 10 and tracked on idler sprockets 108 adjacent stripper 16 (see FIGURE 6). Referring to FIG- URE 2, sprocket 107 (partially shown) is coaxially mounted with sprocket 110 which is driven by chain 111 and conventional motor not shown. Rack rod return chain 106 runs continuously while the drier is in operation to return empty rack rods 20 to press 10. We have found it desirable to provide a two speed drive for chain 106, high speed for day time operation when stripper 16 is in operation rapidly removing rods 20 from accumulator 14 and low speed when stripper 16 is off and only a low steady feed to press is required.

Chain 106 returns empty rods to the front end of the dried .adjacent press 10 where they are collected between the horizontal section of guide rail 112 positioned above the chain 106 at a distance which permits free slippage of chain 106 under the stored rods 20 beneath guide rail 112 without allowing rods 20 to bridge one another and jam up. Rods are halted so yas to slip on chain 106 by a pair of spring retained pivoted stops 113, each one being pivotally mounted about frame work so as to engage the opposite ends of the first advancing empty rack rod 20. In normal operation a number of empty rack rods 20 are stored against stops 113.

Each stop 113 is provided with an arcuate recess 114 sized -to house the lead rack rod 20 snugly to prevent its riding up and jamming. Stop 113 is pivoted about pin 115 mounted to framework 25 and provided with suitable bearings to permit free movement. At the opposite end of each stop 113 is carn roller 116 which bears against cam 117 mounted coaxially on shaft 11S with sprocket 120. The force of rack rods 20 bearing against stop 113 holds cam roller 116 in contact with cam 117.

Sprocket 120 is driven intermittently by a conventional motor (not shown) through sprocket 121 and chain 122. A group of equidistantly spaced rod support lugs 123A-E are mounted on and moved counterclockwise by chain 122 (as view in FIG. 2) so as to pick up empty rods 20 from where they bear against stops 113. Support lugs 123A-E carry rods 20 upwardly against a vertical extension of guide rail 112 until they `are diverted to feed into spreader rack rod magazine generally designed 124 as will now be described.

As shown in FIGURE 2 when chain 122 is moved counterclockwise, rod support lug 123A rises to engage the leading rack rod 20. At the same time cam 117 is rotated counterclockwise. As cam 117 turns, cam recess 125 advances until carn roller 116 falls into mating engagement, and this permits pivoting stop 113 to the left. This allows the leading rack rod 20 to advance just far enough to clear the corner of guide rail 112 and be car- 'ried by lug 123B up .and alongside the vertical run of rail 112. By the time rod 20 is in the vertical path of its advance cam 117 has advanced and returned cam roller 116 to its normal position which returns stop 113 to its closed position (shown in solid line), thus stopping the feed of any more rods 20 under the horizontal run of guide rail 12. Actuation of chain 122 to cause these movements will be described later.

Chain 122 carries rod 20 up alongside the vertical run of guide rail 112 until it engages transfer plate 126 which is iixedly mounted by framework 25. Whenrod 20 engages plate 126 it is diverted off to the right (as viewed in FIG. 2) around the upper bend of guide rail 112 to fall into spreader magazine generally designated 124.

Spreader rack rod magazine 124 is similar to a'conventional rod delivery chute in that it extends downwardly and ends with a hook 127 which holds the leading rod 20 in position to be pickedup by chain 128 which supplies empty rods to press 10. Additionally, in our apparatus we have a spring retained rod metering arrangement to take the load of the stored rods ofi the leading rod 20 held by hook 127. This arrangement comprises fixed lower chute 130, pivoted lower chute 131, fixed upper guide 132 and pivoted upper guide 133 terminating with partial hook 134. Chute 130 and guide 132 are fixed to framework 25, and chute 131 and guide 133 are pivoted about pins 131A and 133A respectively which are fixed to framework 25.

Drawing upper guide 133 toward lower chute 130 is spring 135. Tension in spring 135 is selected to provide a holding force between guide 133 and chute 130 just short of that required to hold back rods 20 when the lead rod 20 is lifted away from hook 127 by chain 128.

Adjacent the lower end of pivoted chute'131 is normally closed microswitch 136, the trigger of rwhich is positioned so as to open switch 136 whenever a rod 20 is positioned between pivoted chute 131 and fixed upper guide 132.

Movement of chain 122 to advance lugs 123AE and thereby convey rods 20 up the vertical run to spreader rod magazine 124 is controlled by. two conditions: (1) Readiness of magazine 124 to receive more rods `20 (if magazine 124 is full, chain 122 should not deliver any more rods 20) and (2) chain 122 should not advance to pick up a rod 20 until it is aligned transverse to chain 122 (this is the same condition as described above with reference to operation of chains 22 and 79). With respect to the first condition, readiness of -magazine 124 to receive rods 20, this is controlled by the position of microswitch 136. If magazine 124 is full, pivoted chute 131 swings down to open switch 136f1which opens the electrical circuit supplying power to the motor that drives chain 122. The second condition, correct transverse rod 20 alignment to chain 122, is controlled by a pair of normally open microswitches 137 in the same manner as described above with reference to chains 22 and 79. When lead rod 20 is aligned transverse to chain 122, microswitches 137 are closed by stops 1-13 so as to close the electrical circuit to the motor driving chain 122, causing chain 122 to advance and carry rod 20 to magazine 124 unless magazine 124 is already full (in which case switch 136 would have opened the circuit to the motor and thus prevented chain 122 from advancing). Dash lines show the position of stops 113 when leading rod 20 has not yet arrived in its aligned position for pick-up.

Also important to the operation of our drier is the accumulator drive arrangement. As pointed out above, extruder 10, preliminary drier 1.1, input elevator 12, finishing drier 13 and accumulator 14 normally run twentyfour hours a day when the drier is in use.- Discharge elevator 15 and stripper 16 normally operate only during the eight-hour working day. Capacity is governed by the output of extruder 10 which is -run at maximum safe operating speed. The macaroni is advanced through drier 13 by line shaft 30 in intermittent steps as each group of four rods 20 is supplied by input elevator 12 (FIG. 3). Dried macaroni is stored in accumulator 14 during the night and early morning to be removed by discharge elevator 15 during the day while stripper 16 is in operation.

As pointed out with reference to FIGURE 6, rods 20 are carried to the discharge end of accumulator 14 by the same intermittent drive of line shaft 30. While this intermittent, relatively slow drive is sufiicient for nighttime operation when rods 30 are simply being stored at the discharge end of accumulator 14, additional drive means are required to quickly remove and feed them to stripper 16 during the day so as to empty accumulator 14 for the following nights operation.

The means for accomplishing this are shown in FIG- URES 6 and 9. High speed motor 145 mounted on framework 25 takes over the drive of rods 20 through accumulator 14 during the day. Motor 145 drives the accumulator sprocket-chain transmission (described above with reference to a typical transmission illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5) through conventional overrunning clutches 146 and 147 mounted on intermediate shaft 148 which is journalled at opposite ends into suitable bearing surfaces of framework 25.

During nighttime operation the accumulator transmission is driven by line shaft 30 through pulley 150, belt 15'1 9 and pulley 152. Pulley 15-2 drives shaft 148 through clutch l146, and shaft 143 drives pulley 153, which in turn drives the accumulator speed reducer 154 through belt 1135 and pulley 156.

During the day this drive is supplemented by motor 145 which drives pulley 157, belt 158 and pulley 159. Pulley 159 drives clutch 147 to drive shaft 148, which in turn drives pulley 153i. Pulley 153 drives speed reducer 154 in the manner described above. Overrunning clutches 146 and 147 permit motor 145 to take over the drive of the accumulator transmission without interfering with the operation of line shaft 30. Line shaft 30 resumes the drive when motor 145 is not operating.

The electrical control arrangement for the accumulator drive is shown in FIGURE 9. It best illustrates the operation of the accumulator drive. As pointed out above with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, rods 20 are discharged from accumulator 14 in groups of four when the four pairs of rod alignment switches 76(A-D) are depressed. Referring to FIGURE 9, this condition is shown with switch positions 76-(A-D) represented in solid lines. When start switch 159 is closed, current from line 160 can pass through switches 76(AD) to ine 16d to energize a holding circuit 162 for starting motor 80. Motor 80 drives chain 79 and carriage 10.11 to lift off and convey a group of four rods 20 as described above. Motor 80l continues to carry rods 20 around until discharged onto conveyor 92. Motor 80 is stopped when switch 91 is momentarily opened by either of a pair of iingers 90 mounted on chain 79. Opening of yswitch 91 breaks the holding circuit 162 which stops motor 80.

As soon asa group of rods 20 is removed from accumulator 14 in the above described manner, switches 76(A-D) `swing to their normal position shown in dashed line in FIGURE 9. In this position current from line 160 passes through switches 76(A-D) to line 16'3 to close motor switch 164 which supplies power to accumulator motor 145. Motor 145 takes over the drive of the accumulator transmission in the manner described above and speeds the next group of four rods 20 to their properly aligned position for pick-up by chain 79. If any one of the group of four rods 2t) is improperly aligned so as'to open (dashed line) any one of the four pair of switches IMA-D), current will liovv to motor 145, which will drive accumulator conveyor '74(A-D) until the misaligned rod 20 is properly positioned. When all four of the next group of rods 20 are properly aligned, switches 76(A-D) will be in the solid line position which will actuate motor 80, repeating the cycle.

In normal daytime operation with a full supply of rods 20 adjacent the exit end of the accumulator 14, motor 80 runs practically steady and motor 145 runs intermittently. When rods 20 are not backed up adjacent the discharge end of accumulator 14 and instead have spaces between adjacent groups of rods (as for instance near the end of the working day when accumulator 14 has been emptied of the prior nights production), motor S runs intermittently as controlled by the opening switch 91 and closing (solid line) of switches 76(A-D), and

motor 145 runs practically steady.

Another important feature of our invention is the type of rod 20 employed in our continuous drier. Referring to FIGURE 5, conventional rods 20 are shown bridging the space between the conveyor chains 72(AD) and carrying the draped spaghetti through the drier. We

have found that by using the structure for rod 20 as` on each en'd of rod 20. Extending downwardly from bar l@ is ridge 142. While bar 14) and ridge 142 are illustrated as having a deformed tubular cross section, these parts may be fabricated of a single piece of solid stock, or ridge 142 may be welded to bar 140.

The purpose of this construction becomes apparent when the problems of conveying spaghetti on rods through a drier are considered. The carrying rods must not roll on the conveyor chains because this will tend to either roll the spaghetti olf the rod or at least disturb the uniform distribution of the spaghetti on the rod. Ridge 142 and suspension of bar 140 from tubular supports '141 lcombine to lower the center of gravity of rod 20 well below its axis of suspension and thus tend to eliminate or damp out tendencies of rod 20 to turn about Iits axis of suspension. Ridge 142 is not essential if suspension of bar '140 is such that the center of gravity of the combined ybar 140 and supports 141 is signicantly lower than their moment of inertia about their axis of support on the conveyor chain.

Another problem found in conveying spaghetti on rods of the conventional type is that when rods 20 push up ag-ainst each other the spaghetti is deformed or broken at the line of contact, or the spaghetti on adjacent rods sticks together. Such a crowding condition occurs in our drier on chain 21 before rods Z0 enter input elevator 12 (FIG. 3) and adjacent the discharge end of accumulator 114 just prior to pick-up Iby discharge elevator 15 when rods 20 on one or more of chains 74(A-D) -are held against microswitch triggers 77 (A-D) (FIGS. 6-7). Our novel rod 2t) with tubular support 141 larger in diameter than bar 140 solves this problem since it prevents the contacting of spaghetti on adjacent rods.

While this description has dealt primarily with specific embodiments of our invention it should be understood that modilications and improvements which would be apparent ,to those skilled in the art can be made to the apparatus and still be within the scope of our invention. Therefore, while we have concentrated our description on various preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that we shall not be limited by the foregoing description but solely by the claims granted to What is claimed is: 1. The method of conveying freshly formed spaghetti extruded and spread on rack rods from a continuous spreader through a single pass multi-tiered vdrier compartment provided with an endless multi-tiered conveyor comprising in combination:

(a) continuously conveying said rack rods on a first endless conveyor in a substantially horizontal single tier iiow from said spreader toward said drier compartment;

(b) blocking further advance of said rods by 'a first rod alignment sensing means which engages the lead rod at each end thereof when said lead rod is aligned transverse to the direction of said flow from said spreader, said tirst sensing means emitting a iirst signal when said lead rod is so aligned;

(c) in response tto said iirst signa-l and each success-ive :first signal transferring said lead rod and each sucoessively aligned lead rod from said first conveyor a vertical distance equal to the spacing of the tiers of said multi-tiered conveyor by means of a second endless conveyor, said second conveyor having an upward and laterally displaced downward pass of equal vertical traverse for each advance of said second conveyor;

(d) diverting said rods in a group off said second conveyor on said downward pass onto said multi-tiered conveyor when the lead rod on said conveyor is adjacent t-he lowest tier of said multi-tiered conveyor, said diverting step simultaneously removing each of said group of said rods spaced to correspond with the spacing of said multi-tiered conveyor;

(e) conveying said group of rods through said drier comparltment under the time, temperature, land humidity conditions required to achieve the desired moisture content;

(f) blocking further advance of said group of rods by a second rod alignment sensing means which engages said rods at opposite ends thereof when said rods are aligned transverse to their direction of flow through said drier compartment, said second sensing means emitting a second Asignal when all rods of said group are so aligned;

(g) in response to said second signal transferring said Irods from said multi-tiered conveyor Ito a rod discharge station by means of a third endless conveyor, said third endless conveyor having an upward and laterally displaced downward pass; and

(h) in response to the actuation of said third endless conveyor laterally displacing said conveyor away from said multi-tiered convey-or after said rods are lifted therefrom Ito prevent contact of said group of rods with said multi-tiered conveyor during the upward pass of said third conveyor.

2. The method of transferring freshly formed spaghetti extruded and spread on rack rods from a continuous spreader to a multi-tiered conveyor of a drier compartment comprising in combination:

(a) continuously conveying said rack rods in a single tier path from said spreader toward said drier compartment;

(b) blocking further advance of said rods by a first rod alignment sensing means which engages the lead rod adjacent each end thereof when said lead rod is aligned transverse to the direction of said flow from said spreader, said first sensing means emitting a first signal when said lead rod is so aligned;

(c) in response to said first signal and each successive first signal transferring said lead rod and each successively aligned lead rod from said first conveyor a distance equal to the spacing of the tiers of said multi-tiered conveyor by -means of a second conveyor having a vertical discharge pass adjacent the entrance of said drying compartment; and

(d) diverting said rods ot said second conveyor on said vertical discharge pass onto said multi-tiered conveyor when a group of rods equal in number to the tiers of said compartment conveyor is adjacent the corresponding group of said tiers of said multitiered conveyor, said diverting step simultaneously removing each of a group of said rods spaced to -correspond with the spacing of said multi-tiered oonveyor.

3. The method of transferring freshly formed spaghetti extruded and spread on rack rods from acontinuous spreader to a multi-tiered conveyor of a drier compartment comprising in combination:

(a) continuously conveying said rack rods in a'single tier path from said spreader press toward said drier compartment;

(b) blocking further advance of said rods by a first rod alignment sensing means which engages the lead rod adjacent each end thereof when said lead rod is aligned transverse to the direction of said flow from said spreader, said first sensing means emitting a first signal when said lead rod is so aligned;

(c) in response to said first signal and each successive first signal transferring said lead rod and each successively aligned lead rod from said first conveyor a vertical distance equal to the spacing of the tiers of said multi-tiered conveyor, by means of a second conveyor having an upward and laterally displaced downward pass of equal vertical traverse for each advance of said second conveyor; and

(d) diverting said rods off said second conveyor on said downward pass onto said multi-tiered conveyor when the lead rod on said conveyor is adjacent the lowest tier of said multi-tiered conveyor, said diverting step simultaneously removing each of a `12 group of said rods'spaced to correspond with the spacing of said multi-tiered conveyor. 4. The method of transferring freshly formed spaghetti extruded and spread on rack rods from a continuous spreader to a multi-tiered conveyor of a drier compartment comprising in combination:

(a) continuously conveying said rack rods in a single tier path from said spreader press toward said drier compartment;

(b) blocking further advance of said rods by a pair of rod alignment switches, each having triggers positioned to engage the lead rod of said rods conveyed from said spreader when said lead rod is aligned transverse to the direction of said ow from said spreader, said switches emitting a first signal when both of said switches are engaged by said lead rod and each successive lead rod in said manner;

(c) in response to said first signal and each successive signal simultaneously lifting and conveying said lead rod and each successively aligned lead rod from said first conveyor a vertical distance equal to the spacing of the tiers of said multi-tiered conveyor by means of a second conveyor having an upward and laterally displaced downward pass of equal rvertical traverse for each advance of said second conveyor; and

(d) diverting said rods off said second conveyor on said downward pass onto said multi-tiered conveyor when the lead rod on said conveyor is adjacent thel lowest tier of said multi-tiered conveyor, said diverting step simultaneously removing each of a group of said rods spaced to correspond with the spacing of said multi-tiered conveyor.

5. Macaroni drier apparatus comprising a macaroniv drying compartment, a multi-tiered conveyor in said compartment for conveying macaroni on rods in spaced tiers through said compartment, a single tier feed conveyor for supplying said macaroni on said rods to said drying compartment, and rod distributing means for receiving and distributing such rods from said feed conveyor to said multi-tiered conveyor, said distributing means comprising rod transfer means for transferring said rods from the discharge of said feed conveyor to each tier of said multi-tiered conveyor, said transfer means comprising an endless conveyor and a plurality of rod support stations spaced on said conveyor equal to the spacing of said tiers, said conveyor having horizontally displaced upward and downward passes positioned to run adjacent both said feed conveyor discharge and each tier of said multi-tiered conveyor, rod alignment means both for releasably blocking each successive lead rod when each such rod is aligned for engagement by said rod transfer means and for generating a signal when each such rod is so aligned, and means responsive to cach said signal for actuating said transfer means to engage and advance each such lead rod and each successively engaged lead rod the distance equal to said tier spacing, said rod support stations being in register with said tiers when so advanced to positions adjacent said tiers.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a single tier discharge conveyor 4adjacent the outlet of such drying compartment, second transfer means for transferring said rods from said multi-tiered conveyor to said single tier discharge conveyor, means for sensing the position and alignment of the lead rod on each tier of said multi-tiered conveyor prior to engagement by said second transfer means, and means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said second transfer means to transfer said lead rods to said discharge conveyor.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising rod diverting means responsive to the actuation of said transfer means for diverting said rods from said support stations to said tiers in a group when a rod laden support station is in register with leach such tier.

8. Macaroni drier apparatus comprising a macaroni drying compartment, a multi-tiered conveyor in said compartment for conveying macaroni on rods in spaced tiers through said compartment, a single tier discharge conveyor for removing said macaroni on said rods from said drying compartment, and means for unloading said rods from said multi-tiered conveyor to said single tier discharge conveyor, said unloading means comprising transfer means for transferring said rods from said multitiered conveyor to `said single tier discharge conveyor, means for sensing t-he position and alignment of the lead rod on each tier of said multi-tiered conveyor prior to engagement by said transfer means, and means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said transfer means to transfer said Llead rods to said discharge conveyor.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising rod support means connected to `said transfer means for supporting said rods while in transit from said multitiered conveyor to said discharge conveyor, said support means being positioned on said transfer means to correspond with the position of said tiers when said transfer means is actuated.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of rod support means connected to said transfer means for supporting each lead rod on each said tier in transit from said multi-tiered conveyor to said discharge conveyor, said support Ameans being spaced on said transfer means equally to the spacing of said tiers in said multi-tiered convey-or, whereby a plurality of rods may be simultaneously transferred as a group from said multi-tiered conveyor t/o said discharge conveyor, each rod of said group being transferred from a different tier of such conveyor.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising means for temporarily shifting said transfer means away from said multi-tiered conveyor when said transfer means is actuated for preventing interference between such conveyor and said transfer means.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF CONVEYING FRESHLY FORMED SPAGHETTI EXTRUDED AND SPREAD ON RACK RODS FROM A CONTINUOUS SPREADER THROUGH A SINGLE PASS MULTI-TIERED DRIER COMPARTMENT PROVIDED WITH AN ENDLESS MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) CONTINUOUSLY CONVEYING SAID RACK ROD ON A FIRST ENDLESS CONVEYOR IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SINGLE TIER FLOW FROM SAID SPREADER TOWARD SAID DRIER COMPARTMENT; (B) BLOCKING FURTHER ADVANCE OF SAID RODS BY A FIRST ROD ALIGNMENT SENSING MEANS WHICH ENGAGES THE LEAD ROD AT EACH END THEREOF WHEN SAID LEAD ROD IS ALIGNED TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID FLOW FROM SAID SPREADER, SAID FIRST SENSING MEANS EMITTING A FIRST SIGNAL WHEN SAID LEAD ROD IS SO ALIGNED; (C) IN RESPONSCE TO SAID FIRST SIGNAL AND EACH SUCCESSIVE FIRST SIGNAL TRANSFERRING SAID LEAD ROD AND EACH SUCCESSIVELY ALIGNED LEAD ROD FROM SAID FIRST CONVEYOR A VERTICAL DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE SPACING OF THE TIERS OF SAID MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR BY MEANS OF A SECOND ENDLESS CONVEYOR, SAID SECOND CONVEYOR HAVING AN UPWARD AND LATERALLY DISPLACED DOWNWARD PASS OF EQUAL VERTICAL TRAVERSE FOR EACH ADVANCE OF SAID SECOND CONVEYOR; (D) DIVERTING SAID RODS IN A GROUP OFF SAID SECOND CONVEYOR ON SAID DOWNWARD PASS ONTO SAID MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR WHEN THE LEAD ROD ON SAID CONVEYOR IS ADJACENT THE LOWEST TIER OF SAID MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR SAID DIVERTING STEP SIMULTANEOUSLY REMOVING EACH OF SAID GROUP OF SAID RODS SPACED TO CORRESPOND WITH THE SPACING OF SAID MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR; (E) CONVEYING SAID GROUP OF RODS THROUGH SAID DRIER COMPARTMENT UNDER THE TIME, TEMPERATURE, AND HUMIDITY CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED POISTURE CONTENT; (F) BLOCKING FURTHER ADVANCE OF SAID GROUP OF RODS BY A SECOND ROD ALIGNMENT SENSING MEANS WHICH ENGAGES SAID RODS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF WHEN SAID RODS ARE ALIGNED TRANSVERSE TO THEIR DIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH SAID DRIER COMPARTMENT, SAID SECOND SENSING MEANS EMITTING A SECOND SIGNAL WHEN ALL RODS OF SAID GROUP ARE SO ALIGNED; (G) IN RESPONSE TO SAID SECOND SIGNAL TRANSFERRING SAID RODS FROM SAID MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR TO A ROD DISCHARGE STATION BY MEANS OF A THIRD ENDLESS CONVEYOR, SAID THIRD ENDLESS CONVEYOR HAVING AN UPWARD AND LATERALLY DISPLACED DOWNWARD PASS; AND (H) IN RESPONSE TO THE ACTUATION OF SAID THIRD ENDLESS CONVEYOR LATERALLY DISPLACING SAID CONVEYOR AWAY FROM SAID MUTLI-TIERED CONVEYOR AFTER SAID RODS ARE LIFTED THEREFROM TO PREVENT CONTACT OF SAID GROUP OF RODS WITH SAID MULTI-TIERED CONVEYOR DURING THE UPWARD PASS OF SAID THIRD CONVEYOR. 